On March 7, when we published our New York Times ad against a U.S. or Israeli strike on Iran, we suggested that one step to implement a “strategy of generosity” as an alternative to the current “strategy of domination” would be for Israel to offer Palestinians a reasonable deal (as defined in my book Embracing Israel/Palestine), which would include helping Palestinians create an economically and politically viable state. One commentator, the hawkish foreign policy writer for The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, said that our raising the issue of Israel/Palestine was “stupid” because to him it was obvious that there was no possible connection.

But our point is that demonizing of Israel, made easy by its occupation of the West Bank and aggressive militarism, makes it possible for the tyrants in Iran and their allies in Syria, Hezbollah, and Hamas to deflect attention from the evils of their own regimes by pointing to the hurtful things being done by Israel. An attack on Iran, we believe, will be used to undermine the “green revolution” that has been partially suppressed by the fundamentalists in Iran already, but which would be forced to join under the leadership of the mullahs to “defend the nation” against these attacks from Israel or the U.S.

Conversely, if Israel were to settle with the Palestinians in an obviously generous, open-hearted, and repentant way, and the U.S. were to launch a Global Marshall Plan, the Iranian dictatorship, the Syrian dictators, Hezbollah, and Hamas would have a very difficult time maintaining the loyalty of their own people. It is not because we support these regimes that we oppose a military response, but because we know that the best and probably only way that a “regime change” can take place is if the people of those countries rebel from inside.

Right now, if the U.S. or Israel gave help to such rebellions, the rebels would be discredited. But if Israel and the U.S. became known for their generosity and caring, we could actually assist the democratic forces in Iran and Syria in a serious way. That’s why our talk about a strategy of generosity is not simply the ethically and spiritually right path; it is also the most effective way to achieve a world in which we and Israel would be safe. That Americans and many Jews are unable to see that this is why they then call for military attacks which will almost certainly backfire as they have for thousands of years, most recently in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

So please read the article below from Ha’aretz to get a sense of how these dynamics work in the world as it is. And if you agree with our approach, please sign and donate to the ad, so that we can have it printed and circulated in Israeli and American media beyond the 2,700 people who already signed and made that ad possible by their generosity.

Syrian President Bashar Assad was advised by Iranian officials to divert attention toward Israel and the Palestinian cause in an effort to deflect criticism of his brutal crackdown, emails said to have been According to the Guardian, the messages were said to have been intercepted by the opposition’s Supreme Council of the Revolution between June of 2011 and February 2012, and include missives from Assad’s private account as well as that belonging to his wife, Asma.

One email sent in December 31 indicated that Assad’s aides advised the Syrian president on the contents on an upcoming speech following “consultations with a good number of people in addition to the media and political adviser for the Iranian ambassador.”

In the composed memorandum, Assad was advised to stress the issue of Muslim identity through the use of Koran quotes, as well as centering on what the email called “Syria’s principles,” which included: “Resistance”; “Hostility to Israel, the first enemy of the Muslims”; and “Protection of Palestinian people’s rights (real prayers should be in the direction of Jerusalem).”

“Maybe here the president can reiterate his stance by condemning forcefully the recent Israeli practices and policies to Judaise Al-Quds (Jerusalem),” the email added, saying that Assad should use “powerful and violent” language in his opposition to Israel.

“Here the subject of Israel comes up and it becomes necessary to put stress on the particular merits of the president by linking the foreign pressures on Syria, which differs in its toughness and content to other countries in crisis, with the geographical proximity to Israel and the position of the people and the regime towards Israel,” the memo stated.

Culminating the email’s section on Israel, the adviser said Assad should make “a clear distinction between the west’s ambitions and people’s demands and that the west and Israel are exploiting part of the Syrian people without their knowledge to break Syria, but the president has a great confidence in the patriotism of the entire Syrian people.”

The emails released by the Guardian also indicated that the Syria leader received advice from noted Lebanese businessman Hussein Mortada, known for his links to the Iran. In one message, Mortada advised Assad to stop blaming al-Qaida for opposition attacks.

“It is not out of our interest to say that al-Qaida organization is behind the operation because this claim will [indemnify] the U.S. administration and Syrian opposition,” Mortada was quoted as saying, adding “I have received contacts from Iran and Hezbollah in my role as director of many Iranian-Lebanese channels and they directed me to not mention that al-Qaida is behind the operation. It is a blatant tactical media mistake.”

Another correspondence of note was between Assad’s wife Asma and the daughter of the emir of Qatar, Hamid bin Khalifa al-Thani, in which the Qatari noblewoman both advised Assad to step down as well as indicated that Qatar may be able to present the Syrian leader’s family with asylum.

Lerner, the self hating Jew, is only helping the propagandists of Iran and Syria. Lerner’s definition of aggressive militarism is Israel defending its own citizens. You seem to be oblivious to the fact that Israel was just showered with rockets. I just don’t get it. Why should Israel surrender itself so the self hating, Berkeley residing Jew, Lerner, can feel good about himself.

I think Lerner should understand a few things:
1. Israel has NO interest in getting involved with events in Syria. It is not Israel’s business and has enough of its own security challenges. Israel ha no inside track with anyone in Syria to befriend or shower love on. I don’t even know what Lerner ks smoking that he even thinks Israel has the lind of leverage.

2. You have over and over again spoken of a “Global Marshall Plan”, thinking that the west is the center of the world’s wealth. I have news for you. The worlds wealth is in the Arab world and China;. At over $100/barrel, the Arab oil producing states have the collective wealth to carry the non oil producing Arab countries out of poverty.The West is broke and wealth has shifted east. The US is struggling to meet its own obligations. Why does the US owe the Arab world help?

3. Peace will come when both sides are ready. This is not a Israel only unilateral effort.

4. As long as the Arabs cannot on their problems rather than blame Israel and the US, they will continue to live in the dark ages.

Lerner choses to place the onus on Israel and the US. I am sure Ahmadinejad will send the self hating Jew, Lerner a thank you note once again. From a Jewish perspective,Lerner writes with a poison pen at a time when Israel is under siege.

Rabbi Michael Lerner, “Self-Hating Jew”? He is, in my view, the noblest of that noble group of humans and Don shouts from the gutter of hatred and ignorance of the ignoble and dark part of that group of humans……..I battle with my own anger and hatred, but lose that with such people……..people do not want war, just good, safe and happy lives…….be they Jews or Muslims or Christians…..politicians and industrialists want war and the money and power it brings at the sacrifice of the ordinary people…….Rabbi Lerner is a man of peace and a Jew who has earned my non-Jewish love and respect.

In the works of the self hating Jews, Lerner, Israel gives and the Arabs take, IN my world, there is mutual exchange. In Lerner’s world self defense aggressive military policy. I my world, Israel has every right to secure its population before it gives 1 acre of land to the Palestinians. In works of the self hating Jew, Lerner, the West is obligated to take care of the world In the real world, the riches are sitting in the oil producing Arab nations can be used to held the world.

I don’t quiet know what made Lerner into a self hating Jew. perhaps it is the poison speed by the BDS movement and al the other Palestinian rights movements tat delegitimizes Israel. What ever it is,he is nothing close to a noble Jew or noble person. A noble person shows concern for the safety and security of ones own people before it shows concern for others,

The faith you describe here is the myth of redemptive violence, the dominant religion of the world. It is based on the Babylonian Marduk-Tiamat story. Super Hero cartoons continue the myth with a struggling, yet powerful Good Guy fighting against an irredeemable Bad Guy. The Good Guy must use good violence to defaet the Bad Guy with his bad violence. Into this mix is brought a powerful divinity who sides with the Good Guy to tip the scales. This myth has produced bloodshed, tragedy, and endless war.

Count me an atheist to this belief system!

I pray for your conversion to the true G-d of nonviolent, transforming love.

What kind of a yutz limits his essay concerning ….Iran Advised Assad to “Blame Israel”…. to saying that the occupation makes such a strategy possible…….without pointing out the vileness of the advice and strategy.

Is this the moral depth and judgment that you have on offer?
If so, why the heck should anybody read your advice settling with the Palestinians? Have you not noticed that Hams has not been open to any real settlement?

Are you really one of the people who fail to understand that any peace deal is blocked by the extremists on both sides?

I am disappointed that Rabbi Lerner did not use the Syrian government’s effort to blame Israel for the Syrian government’s killing of protestors as an opportunity to show the ABSURDITY of blaming Israel for what Syria does or does not do.

If anything, Syria’s efforts to link its conduct with some foreign country’s conduct possibly hits a bit too close to home. In other words, who would want their own blame-Israel outlook to be reinforced by, well, Syria?

Also, has anyone noticed a glaring absence from this blog regarding the massacre of Jewish children by somebody in France who murdered those children on the ground that Israel kills children in what he believed is Palestine? Putting aside for the moment that Israel kills inadvertently in self-defense from terror and of course does not go about hoping that kids die, I find it interesting that the Tikkun community has not really said anything about this tragedy. In my respectful opinion, I believe that the source of the silence stems from the fact that the Tikkun community feels uncomfortable that a murderer harbored the same beliefs espoused by them.

I e mailed Lerner about the incident in France, he is yet to mention it. he has to be pressed time and time and time again to condemn any actions that involves the spilling of Jewish blood. He would sooner be an apologist and blame such actions against jews around the world on Israeli policies. It’s sad that a so called leader of the Jewish community would not want to consider care for is own.